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Home My WebLink About02. Minutes - 02-09-10 Regular Meeting MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 09, 2010 The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular Meeting at 7:35 p.m., February 9, 2010, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor Anne M. Bayer presiding. PRESENT: Council Members: Anne M. Bayer Mayor Luis H. Marquez Mayor Pro Tem Roger C. Brossmer David R. Gafin Mario A. Guerra ALSO PRESENT: Gerald M. Caton, City Manager Edward W. Lee, City Attorney Gilbert Livas, Assistant City Manager Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk Desi Alvarez, Deputy City Manager/Special Projects Mark Sauter, Deputy City Manager/Emergency Services Scott K. Pomrehn, Assistant Deputy City Manager Rick Esteves, Police Chief John Michicoff, Finance Director Thad Phillips, Community Services Director Brian Ragland, Public Works Director Brian Saeki, Community Development Director Jeff Turner, Fire Chief Susan Domen, Deputy City Clerk Other City Staff Mayor Bayer recognized Mike Holland, Representative for Assembly Member De La Torre in the audience. COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: Council Member Guerra reported that he attended the Independent Cities Association (ICA) conference along with Mayor Pro Tem Marquez and Council Member Brossmer, Police Chief Esteves, Deputy City Manager Alvarez, and Assistant City Manager Livas this past weekend where he attended a session on early release of prisoners; he spoke at the Project Area Committee meeting last week; he thanked Mayor Bayer and Council Member Gafin for attending the Community Breakfast held at St. Raymonds last week; he requested staff look into installing WiFi in the Library; requested that laptops be considered for Council Members use for electronic packets instead of paper; and requested that the Imperial Highway project not be installed from Paramount Boulevard to Smallwood Avenue until a review of the effects medians have on businesses has been conducted. -1- City Council Minutes 02/09/10 Council Member Brossmer noted his attendance at the ICA conference last week where he attended sessions on high tech crimes; he attended the photo exhibition “Ambivilance” at the Downey Theatre last week; commented on the Downey Patriot article regarding staff member Lisa Fox, of the Public Works Maintenance Division, and noted his appreciation of her efforts to reduce graffiti and blight; he requested a Youth Leadership Council be considered and a Teen Lounge after school program for Middle and High school students from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. be looked into, noting the City of Santa Fe Springs has both. Mayor Pro Tem Marquez reported that he attended ICA conference as well and attended a session on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and DNA advancements. Mayor Bayer announced that the Downey Rose Float Association will be hosting a fundraiser th at Bob’s Big Boy on Wednesday, February 17 from 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. PRESENTATIONS: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: No one from the Public came forward to speak. CONSENT ITEMS REMOVED: 3. SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER COUNTS COUNCIL CHAMBER DISPLAY – APPROVE THE DESIGN AND APPROPRIATE $3,900 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION: Community Services. This item was removed at the request of City Manager Caton and is listed under Administrative Reports below. CONSENT CALENDAR: It was moved by Council Member Brossmer, seconded by Council Member Gafin, and approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar unanimously carried to items as recommended: 1. APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: Regular and Adjourned Meetings January 26, : 2010 City Clerk. 2. APPROVED WARRANTS ISSUED: Warrant Nos. 247047 – 247446; Wire Nos. 549 – 554 : and 30002078 – 30002086; in the total amount of $3,701,738.13 Finance. 4. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 10-7176, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ORDERING THE ENGINEER TO PREPARE AND FILE A REPORT ON ASSESSMENTS WITHIN LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 121 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010-11: Public Works. 5. RESOLUTIONS APPROVING APPLICATIONS FOR THE STATEWIDE PARK DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION PROGRAM: Administration. -2- City Council Minutes 02/09/10 A. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 10-7177, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR STATEWIDE PARK PROGRAM GRANT FUNDS FOR THE TREASURE ISLAND PARK PROJECT. B. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 10-7178, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR STATEWIDE PARK PROGRAM GRANT FUNDS FOR THE APOLLO PARK PROJECT. C. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 10-7179, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR STATEWIDE PARK PROGRAM GRANT FUNDS FOR THE RIO HONDO PARK PROJECT. 6. ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 10-1257, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY APPROVING CODE AMENDMENT NO. 06-120, REV ‘B’, THEREBY AMENDING THE SIDE YARD SETBACKS FOR NEW STRUCTURES IN THE H-M (HOSPITAL MEDICAL ARTS) ZONE AND ADOPTING A NEGATIVE DECLARATION: Community Development. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: 3. SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER COUNTS COUNCIL CHAMBER DISPLAY – APPROVED THE DESIGN AND APPROPRIATED $3,900 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION: Community Services. This item was discussed after Item No. 8, but is listed here for consistency. Community Services Director Phillips presented the staff report explaining that staff met with Carmody Construction Company, the contractor who installed the Chamber railing, and received a quote of $3,900 for six pillars constructed of white ash. The pillars will be 84” high by 18” wide and have recessed polished gold lettering. There will be 3 pillars on each side of the chamber starting midway and going forward on each side. Council Member Brossmer asked for clarification on where the pillars would stop and start and was told they would start at the night lights and move forward. City Manager Caton explained that they could be grouped together or spaced out. Mayor Bayer noted that she was not against having the six pillars; however, she is concerned with the $3,900 cost to install them. It was moved by Council Member Guerra, seconded by Council Member Brossmer and approve the design and appropriate $3,900. unanimously carried to 7. RATIFIED GRANT APPLICATION FOR AFTER SCHOOL EDUCATION AND SAFETY (ASES) PROGRAM TO ADD ONE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AT EAST MIDDLE SCHOOL AND INCREASE THE CAPACITIES AT GRIFFITHS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: Community Services. Community Services Director Phillips presented the staff report explaining that the grant funding being requested will allow for the addition of one program at East Middle School and increased capacities at Griffiths and West Middle Schools. Council Member Brossmer requested clarification that the other Middle schools already have the program and it was explained that they do, this would allow for an increase in capacity for them. -3- City Council Minutes 02/09/10 Council Member Gafin questioned what the City’s obligation is if the grant is reduced and it was explained that they could discontinue the program, or pick up the costs. Council Member Guerra asked when the City will know if they received the grant and when the additions to the program will start and was told that the approval date is unknown, but the additions would not start until the start of the new school year in September. It was moved by Council Member Gafin, seconded by Council Member Brossmer and ratify the application. unanimously carried to 8. CITY OWNED ART IN PUBLIC PLACES - APPROVED AND APPROPRIATED $12,000 FROM THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES FUND FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A BUST OF GOVERNOR JOHN GATELY DOWNEY IN THE CIVIC CENTER AREA: Community Services. Community Services Director Phillips presented a picture of the proposed bust, noting that it is the same as the one in Ireland and will be commissioned by the same artist. Council Member Guerra questioned how tall the whole structure will be with the pedestal and if the wording for the plaque is being worked on. Director Phillips responded that the height is unknown at this time, as they are waiting until the bust arrives to decide on the platform and that the wording is being worked on and will be presented to Council. Council Member Guerra then asked what the remaining balance is in the Public Arts fund and was told $329,000. Council Member Gafin asked what the cost of the base would be and what it would be constructed of and was told that is unknown until the bust arrives and a determination for the proper complimentary materials could be decided upon. Mayor Pro Tem Marquez noted that compared to the original estimate there was a huge savings by using the same artist from Ireland. He commended staff on their efforts for savings in many areas. It was moved by Council Member Brossmer, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Marquez and approve and appropriate funds. unanimously carried to STAFF COMMENTS: None. City Manager Caton noted that while staff is making efforts to save money, Council Member Brossmer should be credited for the savings at Treasure Island Park on the lighting project and Council Member Guerra for the suggestion of using the same artist on the bust. He stated that it is a nice combination of efforts between the staff and the Council. recessedreconvened The meeting to Closed Session at 8:06 p.m. and with all Council Members present at 9:29 p.m. There were no Closed Session actions to report. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:29 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., February 23, 2010. ___________________________________ ____________________________ KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk ANNE M. BAYER, Mayor -4- City Council Minutes 02/09/10